The beautiful necklaces from iSanctuary symbolize a movement offering women freedom from lives of human trafficking. Founded in 2007, the organization has helped more than 200 women in Mumbai, India and Orange County, CA move from the sex trade into lives of safety and economic independence. Like Thistle Farms, iSanctuary offers so much more than a job. They provide their employees with vocational training, medical services, and a safe haven to heal.
The idea for iSanctuary was born after Stephanie Pollaro and Wendy Dailey visited India in 2007. They had to do something. Stephanie calls it her “moment” when her whole life changed. For the past 7 years, Stephanie has lived in Mumbai, coordinating production of a whole line of jewelry and training for the women making it. Now, she and Wendy work from Orange County, CA, overseeing operations and sharing the iSanctuary story. iSanctuary also employs women in Southern California, escaping lives of prostitution and addiction, to inventory, pack and ship the jewelry made in Mumbai.
The Thistle Farms team is excited to start an ongoing partnership with iSanctuary through the Shared Trade movement. Spearheaded by Thistle Farms, Shared Trade: a fair share for women, was launched at the Thistle Farms National Conference last year. Focused on expanding freedom and economic opportunity for women around the world, Shared Trade works to bring women permanently out of poverty through sustainable employment, recovery from violence, stewardship of the environment, and closing the gap between producers and consumers as a product comes to market.
For Mother's Day this year support the gift of freedom for women everywhere. To view more goodies from iSanctuary, visit HERE.
By Laura Herrod
Thistle Farms intern
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